The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1887-06-29
THE CONFEDERATE FLAGS.
r,dicott's Primal Responsibility for the
Rumpus.

the battle-fag embroiglio that is attracting
90 much attention and creating great
leal of unnecessary discussion in the
newspapers throughout the land. The
otruggle ended twenty-five years ago, and
he rank and file of the armies of both
north and south gladly laid aside the muir
3erous weapons Of horrible war and would
willingly have forgotten the terrible or
heal through which they had passed. But
ne same blatant towards who plunged
the country into all the horrors of civil
war. and toasted on and grew rich from
tbp common wreck, are the ones who have
never been satisfied to see the bloody
chasm closed and reunited people live
happily and peacefully together having
forgiven and forgotten the fierce blows
delivered and received. Those Wretches
were the first to the front before the battle
opened, and first to the rear when the
bloody work commenced, There is not a
brave and honorable soldier, who served
on either side, but who holds in supreme
0ntempt every man, high or low, from
north or south who Is forever digging up
the dead and buried issues OF the past, ,and
holding the reeking skeletons before the
country, demanding that over those flesh
less bones war shall never HsmOOth his
wrinkled front" The country is to be
congratulated over the fact that the for
tunes of war spared enough Of the 'true
hearted and brave ones," who will, as
long as they live, see to it that never, with
their permission, will this class of coward
ly would-be political leaders raise any
issue, living or dead, that will again di
vide the people of this country by any
imaginary line east or west, north or
south:
WAsHINGToN, June lit is rumored
that the secretary Of war will be asked to
resign on account of the battle-fag inn
broglio. 1t is the duty of cabinet officers
oinvestigate to the law on all points before
making a recommendation to the presi-
1at The secretary of war made his
TecOmmendation, and the president sup
posed he had investigated everything
necessary, and hence concurred in the
recommendation. 1t is alleged that Villas
became angry at the cabinet meeting yes
terday and demanded that the order be
rescinded. He said the old soldiers were
appealing to him by telegraph and letter.
It's claimed that Adjt. Gen. Drum was
misled by Gen. Boynton, who suggested
tho return of the battle flags, and then
when the matter started Boynton employ
ed counsel to defend the flags. 1t was o
shrewd political job and the president was
caught in the trap by the carelessness Of
the secretary of war. Hence his resigna-
ton is to be called for by the president,
upon the recommendation of The party
leaders. The eastern newspapers are full
thus far seen is in a special to the Balti-
more Sun, from Richmond, which says
that Fov. Fitz Hugh Lee, discussing this
matter last night, said: ''The proposal to
return southern battle flags did not origi-
nate with southern soldiers. While they
would have accepted again their banners
bathed in the blood of brave comrads, they
recognized that flags captured in battle
are the property of the yictors, and are
content to let them remain in their charge.
The flags captured from northern troops
~
The country should not again be agitated
over pieces Of bunting that mean nothing
now. The south is part and parcel of the
Union to-day, and means to do her part
towards increasing the prosperity and
maintaining the peace Of the republic,
whether flags rot in Washington or are
restored to their former custodians. If
any man hauls down the American flag
shoot him on the spot, but don't let US get
INTO trouble because other flags simply
change their resting place.
WASHINGTON, June 1.-THE official
record of the presentation of the battle
Tag proposition to the president consists
OF the following letter from Adjt. Gen.
Drum ard its endorsement by Secretary
Endicott:
WAR DEPARTMENT, ADJUTANT GENER-
AIS OFFICE, WASHINGTON, June 10.-WIL-
LIAM ENDIcoTT, Secretary of war: Dear
Sir-I have the honor to state that there
are now in this office (stored in one of the
attcs of the building) number of flags
aaptured in action, but recovered at the
fall of the Confederacy and forwarded TO
The war department for safe keeping, TO-
gether with number of Confederate
nags, which the fortunes of war placed in
our hands during the late civil war.
while in the past favorable action has al
ways been taken on application, properly
supported, for the return of Union flags
" organizations representing the surviy-
oFs Of military regiments in the service of